JR Versus Stinky Dumping Ground by R. Ellis Brown

JR VERSUS STINKY DUMPING GROUND

Twelve-year-old JR is convinced the toxic dump next door killed his sister—and no one will listen.

If JR fails, the danger won’t stop with his family—it could destroy the entire neighborhood.

The adults say he is wrong. They say keep quiet. They say let them handle it. But JR has watched them do nothing for years. So, he is taking matters into his own hands. With help from his friends, a school project that becomes an investigation, and a heart that refuses to give up, JR sets out on a mission to expose the truth.

Fueled by courage, determination, and a heart that refuses to give up, JR sets out on a mission that seems impossible: “Stinky Dumping Ground has got to go!”

But can one kid really take on something so big? Can kids make a difference and get environmental justice?

JR Versus Stinky Dumping Ground is about community activism inspired by kids. An enjoyable read for adults. A must-read for kids.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• More than an environmental mystery. A funny, sharp 12-year-old takes on an illegal dump in Brooklyn, but the real story is about grief, family, and finding your voice.
• Rooted in personal loss. Rawle lost his younger sister at age 12, the same age as JR. That experience shaped the book's emotional core.
• Community matters. Inspired by a Spike Lee vibe, the Brooklyn neighborhood is full of characters who argue, support, and show up for each other when it counts.
• No perfect victories. JR doesn't get everything he wants, and that's intentional. The book respects young readers enough to keep the ending honest.
• A series with a twist. Future books will feature different kids with the initials J.R. in different communities, each tackling environmental issues. Three more drafts are already in progress.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ellis Brown grew up surrounded by stories, the kind his uncles told with flair and detail, the kind that stick with you. Now he tells his own. A debut novelist and children's book author, Brown writes across genres with a consistent thread: characters navigating big stakes, real-world issues, and the complicated question of who the heroes really are.

By day, Brown works as a Business Advisor at the Pace University Small Business Development Center, where he has spent two decades helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality, not unlike what he does on the page.

Learn more about R. Ellis Brown and his work - Connect with him at: 

Website: www.rellisbrown.com  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.ellis.brown/ 
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/rellisbrown.bsky.social